Moccasin footwear and method of manufacture

ABSTRACT

THE PRESENT INVENTION INCLUDES FOOTWEAR OF THE MOCCASIN TYPE. A SOLE MEMBER INCLUDES A PLURALITY OF JUXTAPOSED PERIPHERAL PROJECTIONS, EACH OF WHICH IS FORMED WITH AN OPENING THERETHROUGH. A DRAW CORD EXTENDS IN TENSION THROUGH EACH OF THE OPENINGS SUCH THAT THE PROJECTIONS ARE POSITIONED IN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP OVER AND IN CONTACT WITH THE TOES OF A USER OF THE FOOTWEAR.

1 March 1971 r M. s. NADL-ER MQCCASIN FOOTWEAR AND METXIOD OFMANUFACTURE Filed on. 7, less INVER MARTIN s. NADLER BY J ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent 3,568,338 MOCCASIN FOOTWEAR AND METHOD OFMANUFACTURE Martin S. Nadler, 208 Alpine Drive, Paramus, NJ. 07652 FiledOct. 7, 1969, Ser. No. 864,470 Int. Cl. A43b 3/14; A43d 9/00 U.S. CI.36-11 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention includesfootwear of the moccasin type. A sole member includes a plurality ofjuxtaposed peripheral projections, each of which is formed with anopening therethrough. A draw cord extends in tension through each of theopenings such that the projections are positioned in overlappingrelationship over and in contact with the toes of a user of thefootwear.

This invention relates generally to footwear and more particularly tomoccasins and a method of constructing same.

It is an object of this invention to provide footwear of the moccasintype which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which providesthe structural support of a shoe.

Another object of this invention is to provide footwear which stayssnugly on the foot of the wearer without the necessity of anover-the-instep strap or binding, thereby providing a completely opensandal type moccasin.

Another object is to provide footwear wherein the steps of manufacturethereof require a minimum of sewing and which is adapted to be equippedwith conventional heel pieces.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide footwear of simpleconstruction which is both comfortable to the user and pleasing to theeye.

The present invention fulfills the aforementioned objects and overcomesthe limitations and disadvantages of the prior art by providing, in oneembodiment, a moccasin-type footwear including a sole member having aplurality of peripheral projections initially extending in juxtapositionfrom a central portion thereof. Each of the projections are formed witha hole which extends through the middle thereof. A draw cord or stringextends in tension through each of these openings in the assembled formsuch that the projections are finally positioned in overlappingrelationship over and in contact with the toes of a user.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdescription of specific embodiments of the invention together with theaccompanying drawing wherein similar reference characters denote similarelements throughout the several views, in which FIG. 1 is an explodedperspective view of a moccasintype footwear according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the footwear of FIG. 1 in an assembledcondition upon the foot of a user, the foot being fragmentarily shown inphantom outline;

FIG. 3 is an elevational rearward view of the footwear of FIG. 1.

Referring now in more detail to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows in an explodedview the components of a preferred embodiment of a moccasin 10 accordingto the invention. A sole member 12, shown in developed form, comprises apiece of leather or other suitable material which is cut to form anunperforated central portion 14 bounded around the front and sides ofits periphery by a series of initially juxtaposed projections 16.Projections 16 are ice formed by a plurality of substantially equallyspaced cuts or slices 18 through the outer edges of sole member 12. Theextremities of projections 16 are shown to be convergent so as toterminate in pointed edges 20', however, other suitable edgeconfigurations which are visually or functionally desirable arecontemplated as coming within the scope of the invention.

Projections 16 are an integral part of sole member 12 and are eachfurther formed with a hole 22 extending through an area substantiallymidway between the slices 18 bounding each projection. The distancebetween the edge of any of holes 22 and an adjacent slice 18 may bevaried so long as sufficient material to resist tearing exists betweenthem.

A rearward end of sole member 12 includes a central tab 24 locatedmidway between the sides of the sole member. Adjacent either side of tab24 is a relatively straight transversely extending edge 26. Thecooperation between tab 24 and edges 26 is described below.

An inner solepiece 28 shown in FIG. 1 is formed with a shapeapproximating the bearing area of a human foot, and includes a generallyoval heel portion 30, a sole portion 32, and a contoured midsole portion34. In the assembled or fully constructed condition, inner solepiece 28is secured, such as by stitching, to the upper side of central portion14 to form the bearing surface within moccasin 10 against which the footrests. Inner solepiece 28 may be made from leather or a material adaptedto provide a cushioned effect, such as foam rubber.

An outer solepiece 36, similar in shape to inner solepiece 28, is formedwith a sole portion 38, a heel portion 40 and a midsole portion 42.Solepiece 36 is substantially planar, yet flexible, and provides thewearing undersurface of moccasin 10. Solepiece 36 is preferably madefrom leather or an equivalent.

FIG. 1 illustrates sole member 12 in an unfolded, developed condition.The method of forming sole member 12 includes cutting the general shape,the slices 18, the holes 22, the tab 24 and edges 26, and the surfacesdefining pointed edges 20 in one step. It is further within the scope ofthe invention to form inner and outer solepieces 28 and 36,respectively, at the same time and from the same stock as sole member12, thereby greatly minimizing manufacturing costs and providing arelatively simple structure to assemble.

After the components shown in FIG. 1 are formed as illustrated,solepieces 28 and 36 are sewn to the upper and lower surfaces of centralportion 14 by the same stitching process, again for the purpose ofminimizing manufacturing time and labor. These savings in manufacturingcosts reflect themselves in a more inexpensive product to the consumer,while still maintaining a high quality construction.

Thereafter, the rearward part of moccasin 10 is formed by stitchingedges 26 in butting or side-by-side relationship, after which tab 24 isstitched as shown to form a rear end closure of the moccasin. Inalternative embodirnents of the invention, tab 24 may be riveted and theedges 26 may be stitched, although any combinations of stitching,riveting or other modes of securing come within the scope of theinvention.

Moccasin 10 takes its final or assembled form upon passing a leather orsuitable equivalent cord or draw string 44 through each of holes 22,starting from the rear of the moccasin and terminating there. Cord 44 ispassed through holes 22 from what appears as the outside of each ofprojections 16 on the inside of the right moccasin, as shown in FIG. 2,to the inside. Cord 44 may be threaded through holes 22 starting fromthe back of moccasin 10 along the inside of the moccasin and continuingaround the toe portion to and along the outside until the back isreached. FIG. 2, in this case, shows the cord 44 extending from theoutside of each projection to the inside through each hole, travellingfrom toe to heel on the outside of moccasin 10. Alternatively, cord 44may be laced such that both sides of the moccasin will yield the samecord lacing configuration travelling from back to front. One or moretoe-located projections may have more than one hole for this purpose. Inthis way, upon pulling cord 44 taut and tying same as shown, oralternatively around the ankle of the user, the tension in cord 44causes adjacent projections 16 to overlap one another and to contact andcover the toes of the user as well as to hug the sides and back of thefoot. Cord 44, in at alternative embodiment of the invention, mayconstitute a length of elastic material which will hold projections 16in overlapping relationship. A foot is fragmentarily shown in phantomoutline in FIG. 2.

It is to be noted that in one embodiment of the invention, in the areascovering the toes, cord 44 does not contact the foot itself, but, as aresult of the overlapping of projections 16, it is the material of theseprojections which holds the toes and thus the foot in place withinmoccasin 10.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described asincluding an inner solepiece and an outer solepiece, either or both ofthese members may be optionally eliminated, in which case the solemember 14 itself separates the foot of the user from the ground.

The embodiments of the invention particularly disclosed are presentedmerely as examples of the invention. Other embodiments, forms andmodifications of the invention coming within the proper scope of theappended claims will of course readily suggest themselves to thoseskilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. Footwear, comprising an originally flat sole member including aplurality of projections extending peripherally about the centralportion of said sole member,

said projections being in abutting relationship when said member is in aflat position, each of said projections being formed with an openingtherethrough, and a draw cord extending sequentially through theopenings in adjacent projections and position said projections inoverlapping relationship with respect to one another.

2. Footwear according to claim 1, further comprising an inner solepiecedisposed between an upper side of said central portion and the bottom ofsaid foot.

3.v Footwear according .to claim 1, further comprising a bottomsolepiece integral with an underside of said central portion.

4. Footwear according to claim 1, further comprising means for securingrear ward edges of said sole member together.

5. Footwear, comprising a sole member including a plurality ofperipheral projections initially extending in juxtaposition from acentral portion of said sole member, each of said projections beingformed with an opening therethrough, and a draw cord extending throughsaid openings such that said projections are finally positioned inoverlapping relationship with respect to one another, said projectionscomprising peripheral portions of said central portions formed with aplurality of outwardly extending slits, adjacent slits bounding thesides of a projection.

6. Footwear according to claim 5, wherein the extremities of saidprojections include converging surfaces which meet angularly at arelatively pointed edge.

7. A method of constructing footwear, comprising the steps of forming asole member with a central portion and a plurality of juxtaposedprojections formed with openings therethrough and extending outwardlyfrom the central portion, securing rearward portions of the sole memberto one another, and causing a cord to be passed in tension sequentiallythrough adjacent openings, thereby causing adjacent projections toassume an overlapping relationship with one another.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 131,318 2/1942 Levin 361 1X1,398,108 11/1921 McQuinn 36--11 1,877,080 9/1932 Teshima 3611X2,110,839 3/1938 Ferriot 3611.5 2,682,713 7/1954 Eiger 36-11 2,738,5973/1956 Sandler 3611 3,040,451 6/1962 Hilkemeyer 36l1X PATRICK D. LAWSON,Primary Examiner Us. 01. X.R.

